SB assessor arrested in drug raid

SAN BERNARDINO Tax assessor Bill Postmus was arrested and booked into the /*West Valley Detention Center*/ on drug-related charges early Thursday.

Search warrants were served in six cities in San Bernardino and Orange counties.

"During the service of a search warrant at Bill Postmus' office drug paraphernalia was discovered. He was arrested for drug paraphernalia for unlawful use and possession of methamphetamine," said San Bernardino County District Attorney Spokesperson Susan Mickey.

Earlier this month he told the /*San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors*/, recorded on the county's Web site, that he had dealt with an addiction problem.

"And at this time I will acknowledge that I have had a previous battle with substance abuse. I am proud to say that the successful struggle did not interfere with my service as county assessor," said Postmus, at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Bill Postmus served on the Board of Supervisors for seven years. He successfully ran for the assessor's office in 2007.

He says that he will not run for re-election in 2010, but he will not step down.

"I intend to fully and faithfully discharge the duties and responsibilities of my office for the remaining 24 months of my term," said Postmus, at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

What effect Thursday's arrest will have on those plans is unclear.

"Mr. Postmus may be eligible for a diversionary program through the courts. That of course would be determined by the court action," said Mickey. "I do not know what his status would be [if he continued to serve]," said Mickey.

At the county government center, the chairman of the board of supervisors said he was very disturbed, and that at the next meeting the board will consider conducting their own investigation and maybe looking for ways to remove Postmus from office.

Meanwhile, the assessor paid his bail and was released from jail earlier Thursday afternoon.